The Centrepiece of Washington's Retool

What's noticeable about Ilya Protas' NHL debut

Here’s the first page of the Washington Capitals’ team chapter from the newly-released Hockey Tactics 2026 ebook.

Regardless of how Washington’s season unfolds, I am bullish about the team’s outlook.

Friend of the newsletter JFresh had this to say about WSH’s team-building strategy.

Cautious optimism would be the correct mindset when it comes to the three high-potential rookies.

Ryan Leonard’s point production has been solid (42pts in 72 games as a 21 year old), but his 5v5 playdriving has been spotty despite his tenacity and rush instincts.

Cole Hutson is taller and smoother than Lane, but the same can be said about the Luke Hughes, whose overall effectiveness trails that of older brother Quinn.

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More on Leonard & Hutson:

Playoff Playbook: Ryan Leonard's Hockey IQ

The Hutson DNA

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Ilya Protas, the last member of the trio, is a 6’5” center who’s scored at nearly a point per game pace as an 19 year old AHL rookie.

Older brother Aliaksei, who WSH hit on with a third-round pick in 2019, is a north-south winger who shoots first and asks questions later. The younger Protas, meanwhile, thrives through tactical understanding rather than through brute force.

On both sides of the puck, Ilya Protas demonstrates the importance of lag free reaction. Though he’s not the fastest, he quickly recognizes changes in phases of play and quickly move in the right direction to arrive on time.

Here are a few examples from his NHL debut against the Toronto Maple Leafs.